WINNIPEG, April 12, 2018 /CNW/ - Pollard Banknote Limited (TSX: PBL) ("Pollard Banknote") congratulates the Missouri Lottery on the success of its Marilyn Monroe™ Scratchers game which launched on February 26, 2018. Marilyn Monroe™ is one of Pollard Banknote's newest licensed properties, and the Missouri Lottery is the first to launch this timeless offering, which has become the Lottery's top-selling licensed game since 2013, based on four weeks of sales.

Marilyn Monroe's iconic look appeals to nostalgic players and non-players alike. The star's glamorous presence translates naturally into beautiful instant ticket art, enhancing any lottery's instant ticket category, as shown by the design of the Missouri Lottery's $5 Scratchers ticket. This multi-scene ticket gives players the chance to collect three different photos of the Hollywood legend.

The Lottery's promotional campaign for the Marilyn ticket included social media and radio advertising, as well as introducing the instant game to the public through a series of pre-launch events to get players excited about the brand.

A life-size Marilyn standee made an appearance at 205 retail locations statewide. Players were invited to "take a selfie with Marilyn Monroe" and upload the photo to social media. In-store promotions highlighting the game were also conducted throughout the month of March, including a second-chance drawing and an on-site event for a chance to win an officially-licensed Marilyn prize pack. The Missouri Lottery also partnered with iHeart Radio, KLOU in St. Louis and KCMO in Kansas City to help promote the Marilyn Monroe™ Scratchers ticket in the "Marilyn Mondays" promotion. Each Monday in March, listeners had three chances to call in to win a Marilyn Monroe™ prize pack and an entry into a grand-prize drawing to win a $1,500 gift certificate to Tiffany's in Kansas City or Diamonds Direct in St. Louis.

Marilyn also made an appearance at the St. Louis Working Women's Survival Show, one of the Lottery's pre-launch events. The Lottery brought the brand to life at the conference with a variety of exciting Marilyn-themed experiences for attendees. Non-winning tickets purchased at the conference could be redeemed at the Lottery's booth for a chance to win a trip to the Marilyn Monroe™ Spa in New York City, which included a personalized shopping experience.

"We are excited to bring Marilyn Monroe™ to market in Missouri," said Sina Aiello, Vice President, Marketing for Pollard Banknote. "We were honored to be able to attend one of the pre-launch events to see the Lottery's amazing promotional support in action. With the appeal of the brand, plus the exciting events the Lottery is offering, Marilyn is proving to be a hit in Missouri."

"The aspirational and glamorous attributes that Marilyn represents have attracted and engaged a variety of players in Missouri," said May Scheve Reardon, Executive Director of the Missouri Lottery. "We've received great excitement and participation from both retailers and players, and the ticket is nearly sold out already!"

The Missouri Lottery was created in 1985. Since sales started in 1986, the Missouri Lottery has generated more than $5.9 billion for the state and public education. Lottery players have won more than $13.1 billion in prizes and retailers have earned more than $1.3 billion in commissions.

About Pollard Banknote

Pollard Banknote is a leading lottery partner to more than 60 lotteries worldwide, providing high quality instant ticket products, licensed games, and a full suite of digital offerings ranging from game apps to comprehensive player engagement and iLottery solutions, including strategic marketing and management services. The company is a proven innovator and has decades of experience helping lotteries to maximize player engagement, sales, and proceeds for good causes. Pollard Banknote also plays a major role in providing pull-tab tickets, bingo paper, and its Diamond Game and Oasis-branded electronic ticket machines to charitable and other gaming markets in North America. Established in 1907, Pollard Banknote is owned approximately 67.6% by the Pollard family and 32.4% by public shareholders, and is publicly traded on the TSX (PBL). For more information, please visit our website at www.pollardbanknote.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking" statements and information, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this document, such statements include such words as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "plan," and other similar terminology. These statements reflect management's current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this document. There should not be an expectation that such information will in all circumstances be updated, supplemented, or revised whether as a result of new information, changing circumstances, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Pollard Banknote Limited

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